Saturday, October 8
El Paso, TX
1:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-151,50 CUSA
3
at
2
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
UTEP
-108,41 CUSA
1
2
3
4
5
F
Rice
23
20
25
25
16
3
UTEP
25
25
15
20
14
2
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
No. 22 Owls Complete Comeback to Earn 3-2 Victory at UTEP
10/8/2022 5:38:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
El Paso, Texas – The No. 22 Rice Owls volleyball team dug itself a hole, falling into a 2-0 deficit before fighting back and defeating the UTEP Miners in five sets (23-25, 20-25, 25-15, 25-20, 16-14) Saturday afternoon at Memorial Gym.
Rice (15-1, 5-0) improved to 6-1 in five-set matches this season, five of which have come during their current 11-match winning streak. It's also the second time this year they came back from a 2-0 deficit, also doing so against Kansas State on Sept. 16.
The Owls used a balanced offensive attack, led by a combined 51 kills from their starting front line. Junior Sahara Maruska totaled a career-high 18 kills on 39 attacks (.333) while senior Ellie Bichelmeyer tied a career-high with 16 kills.
Fifth-year senior Anota Adekunle added 17 kills on 29 attempts (.483).
Fifth year setter Carly Graham had 54 assists, the fourth time this year she notched at least 50, while junior Nia McCardell added 29 digs, the eight match this season with 20 or more digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach, Genny Volpe
"We feel very lucky to come out of El Paso today with a victory. It was a rough start for us offensively, almost one that we couldn't recover from. But in the end, this team found a way. It was great to see Sahara (Maruska) turn it up and Anota (Adekunle) came on late as well. We had some awesome defensive plays by our defensive specialist crew in Gaby (Mansfield), Darby (Harris) and Nia (McCardell)."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
UTEP jumped out to a 5-1 lead before Rice went on a 10-3 run to take an 11-8 lead. With the set tied at 20, UTEP took the lead for good on an attack error, outscoring the Owls, 5-3, to close the set. Rice was held to just .179 hitting, despite Adekunle being a perfect 5-for-5 on kills.
Second Set
The second set began as a back-and-forth affair, as neither team led by more than one through the first 15 points. Tied at nine, the Miners went on a 13-6 run to take its largest lead of the match, 22-15. Rice pulled within four before UTEP earned a 25-20 victory. UTEP hit .237 in the set while keeping the Owls to just .156
Third Set
The Owls' defense showed up out of the break, keeping UTEP to just .069 while hitting .400. Rice won six of the first seven points, but the Miners cut it to 11-9. However, the Owls won eight straight points on its way to a 25-15 victory. Adekunle, Lolo Foord and Maruska combine to go 13-of-18 in the set.
Fourth Set
UTEP jumped out to an 11-7 lead before Rice went on a 9-2 run. The Owls kept UTEP at bay, leading the rest of the way before a kill by Adekunle tied the match. Rice hit .517 for the set as Adekunle and Maruska both had four kills.
Fifth Set
The teams traded points before UTEP grabbed a 9-6 lead. Four straight points gave Rice its first lead of the set at 10-9. The Owls took a 14-12 lead, but the Miners fought off two straight match points to tie it at 14. But a kill by Adekunle followed by one from Bichelmeyer sealed the comeback for the Owls. Both teams hit over .300 for the set, with Rice hitting .320 while the Miners were at .304.
UP NEXT
The Owls return home on Wednesday, Oct. 12 for a battle of ranked teams when it hosts No. 17 Baylor at 6 p.m. in their final non-conference match of the season.
Rice (15-1, 5-0) improved to 6-1 in five-set matches this season, five of which have come during their current 11-match winning streak. It's also the second time this year they came back from a 2-0 deficit, also doing so against Kansas State on Sept. 16.
The Owls used a balanced offensive attack, led by a combined 51 kills from their starting front line. Junior Sahara Maruska totaled a career-high 18 kills on 39 attacks (.333) while senior Ellie Bichelmeyer tied a career-high with 16 kills.
Fifth-year senior Anota Adekunle added 17 kills on 29 attempts (.483).
Fifth year setter Carly Graham had 54 assists, the fourth time this year she notched at least 50, while junior Nia McCardell added 29 digs, the eight match this season with 20 or more digs.
Postgame Reaction – Head Coach, Genny Volpe
"We feel very lucky to come out of El Paso today with a victory. It was a rough start for us offensively, almost one that we couldn't recover from. But in the end, this team found a way. It was great to see Sahara (Maruska) turn it up and Anota (Adekunle) came on late as well. We had some awesome defensive plays by our defensive specialist crew in Gaby (Mansfield), Darby (Harris) and Nia (McCardell)."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
UTEP jumped out to a 5-1 lead before Rice went on a 10-3 run to take an 11-8 lead. With the set tied at 20, UTEP took the lead for good on an attack error, outscoring the Owls, 5-3, to close the set. Rice was held to just .179 hitting, despite Adekunle being a perfect 5-for-5 on kills.
Second Set
The second set began as a back-and-forth affair, as neither team led by more than one through the first 15 points. Tied at nine, the Miners went on a 13-6 run to take its largest lead of the match, 22-15. Rice pulled within four before UTEP earned a 25-20 victory. UTEP hit .237 in the set while keeping the Owls to just .156
Third Set
The Owls' defense showed up out of the break, keeping UTEP to just .069 while hitting .400. Rice won six of the first seven points, but the Miners cut it to 11-9. However, the Owls won eight straight points on its way to a 25-15 victory. Adekunle, Lolo Foord and Maruska combine to go 13-of-18 in the set.
Fourth Set
UTEP jumped out to an 11-7 lead before Rice went on a 9-2 run. The Owls kept UTEP at bay, leading the rest of the way before a kill by Adekunle tied the match. Rice hit .517 for the set as Adekunle and Maruska both had four kills.
Fifth Set
The teams traded points before UTEP grabbed a 9-6 lead. Four straight points gave Rice its first lead of the set at 10-9. The Owls took a 14-12 lead, but the Miners fought off two straight match points to tie it at 14. But a kill by Adekunle followed by one from Bichelmeyer sealed the comeback for the Owls. Both teams hit over .300 for the set, with Rice hitting .320 while the Miners were at .304.
UP NEXT
The Owls return home on Wednesday, Oct. 12 for a battle of ranked teams when it hosts No. 17 Baylor at 6 p.m. in their final non-conference match of the season.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
UTEP
Kills
66
61
Errors
21
24
Attempts
152
171
Hitting %
.296
.216
Points
81
76
Assists
61
58
Aces
6
6
Blocks
9
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
2
Blocks
5
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
Rice vs. Central Arkansas Highlights
Sunday, August 31
Volleyball Exhibition vs. Houston Post-Match Press Conference
Sunday, August 24
VB Thea Carter Kick Save vs. Wichita State
Monday, August 18
2024 Night of the Owl End of Year Recap
Thursday, April 25